In 2004, after marriage between persons of the same sex became legal, I wrote a blog post about what a pastor might do when the couple had already vowed themselves to each other in the only spheres available: the social, religious or both. Husband Jonathan and I are clear that our wedding seven years ago [...]
As some of you know, on August 21, Jonathan Padget and I legally married at home in the company of some local friends. He and I were married at church in 2003, but now that the District of Columbia marriage law encompasses same-sex couples we wanted to “complete” our marriage. (The liturgy follows.) The Rev. [...]
That’s the name of a blog I just started reading. (HT: Get Rich Slowly) No, I’m not getting married again. But the “wedding industrial complex” has bothered me for years, and I’ve seen the ideal of the perfect wedding get in the way of what it seemed the couple (or at least one half the [...]
If the “year without toilet paper” didn’t gross out willing environmentalists, perhaps the idea of composting the dead (link to Ethical Man blog) will. I don’t care if it takes a lot of energy — about a month’s worth for a living Westerner — to cremate a body, I will not be composted or even [...]
I think I could bear a few bishops if I were in Sweden (and spoke Swedish.) The Church of Sweden seems so keen in its international humanitarian mission. It willingly disestablished. They have a quite-nice modern language liturgy conveniently translated to English and — miracle of miracles! — have a preliminary rite for celebrating registered [...]
Philocrites wrote about a now-tabled resolution in the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts that would have asked clergy not to solemnize marriage, but only to go so far bless civil marriage. I hate this cut-nose-spite-face business, especially if there’s an underlying benefit of getting church-shopping brides and grooms off your back. Philo also knocks some big [...]
I found two resources to bookmark if you are in pastoral ministry or are taking care of someone who may soon die. Consumerist has an article today about taking care of the financial matters of the deceased. Not easy stuff, but better to be prepared. “HOWTO: Handle Closing Dead People’s Accounts” Navy member? I found [...]
Not everyone will need this. Perhaps quite few. But if you’re conducting a burial at sea — whether the remains are cremated or not — this a resource you should have. Burials at Sea (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) Share this article Hide Sites $$(‘div.d1658′).each( function(e) { e.visualEffect(‘slide_up’,{duration:0.5}) });
I was able to order a copy of Frank Schulman’s A Manual of Worship: insights from over fifty as a Unitarian Universalist minister before it became available at the UUA Bookstore. It now is so available. PeaceBang clued me in on it. I got my copy today. This kind of guide, intended mainly for ministers [...]
Ages ago, I said I would work on some ideas for remembering the dead when no physical remains could be found. This weekend seems a good time to pick that back up, and let’s begin with the catafalque. Share this article Hide Sites $$(‘div.d875′).each( function(e) { e.visualEffect(‘slide_up’,{duration:0.5}) });
